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President William Ruto yesterday explained why he returned former Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki to the docket in the new cabinet appointments.

Addressing crowds in Tharaka Nithi county yesterday, President Ruto who was accompanied by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, local governor Muthomi  Njuki and Prof Kindiki, said that he took the decision to reinstate the latter to the Interior docket due to his excellent performance in combating banditry in the restive North Rift region, among other achievements.

“On Wednesday, I named a new cabinet bringing all tribes in the country together and also bringing back those who had worked hard and delivered to Kenyans back to the cabinet so we can move forward together,” the president started.

“A person like Kindiki has really worked hard and that is why I reinstated him to the same docket and I’m also ready to work with the new team for the betterment of this nation,” he went on amid ululations from the huge crowd which welcomed him at Kathwana county headquarters for the one day development tour.

He lauded Kindiki for what he termed as “positive transformation” in the security docket, praising him for winning the war against banditry as well as securing the country against terrorist attacks.

Kindiki on his part expressed his gratitude to the president for re-appointing him and called on locals to support the new government.

“Let us support the president and the new team from the opposition so that together we can grow this country economically and improve our people’s livelihoods,” said Kindiki. 

Ruto went on to explain that he appointed members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to the cabinet to help bring peace and unity in the country.

“I just thought that there was no need to discriminate others or sideline them because the country is going through a lot of political challenges and for the country to move forward, I decided to bring the Azimio coalition into the new government,” said the president.

On Wednesday, the president nominated four members of the orange party to the new look cabinet in a move that has split the Azimio coalition down the middle.

The four include Nominated MP John Mbadi (National Treasury), former governors Ali Hassan Joho (Blue Economy and Mining), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs) and Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum).

ODM leader Raila Odinga, while wishing the four well in their new roles, appeared to suggest that the party was not involved in their appointments.

“As articulated in our statement on Tuesday July 23, 2024, neither the ODM party nor the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party has entered into any coalition agreement with President Ruto’s UDA party,” said Raila in a statement.